Sunauli is not a place to linger. But it is an important border crossing/trade point, therefore the traffic and congestion. There are a few travel offices, currency exchange facilities on the Nepal side, and zero sights - unless you count long lines of Indian big-rigs. If you are having Indian Currency and going to Nepal, no need to worry about exchanging money to Nepali Currency. Shops/Hotels/Bus in Nepal easily accept Indian Currencies of denominations up to Rs 100.

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Sunauli is not a place to linger. But it is an important border crossing/trade point, therefore the traffic and congestion. There are a few travel offices, currency exchange facilities on the Nepal side, and zero sights - unless you count long lines of Indian big-rigs. If you have Indian Currency and are going to Nepal, there's no need to worry about exchanging money to Nepali Currency. Shops/Hotels/Buses in Nepal easily accept Indian Currencies in denominations up to Rs 100.

Going from India to Nepal, Nepalese visas are available on arrival. Going from Nepal to India? Hope you have visa already as no visa's are available on arrival to India. And neither immigration offices are overly helpful.

Going from India to Nepal, Nepalese visas are available on arrival. Going from Nepal to India? Hope you have visa already as no visa's are available on arrival to India. And neither immigration offices are overly helpful.

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==Get in==

==Get in==

Revision as of 05:41, 20 November 2012

Sunauli is the traditional name given to both sides of this India/Nepal border crossing, 70 kilometers north of Gorakpur and 3 kilometers south of Bhairahawa. Technically the Indian side is "Sunauli" and Nepal side is Belahiya. Both are small, congested, dusty and dirty towns and the quicker you can get on to Bhairahawa (again only three kilometers north)/elsewhere, the better.

Contents

Understand

Sunauli is not a place to linger. But it is an important border crossing/trade point, therefore the traffic and congestion. There are a few travel offices, currency exchange facilities on the Nepal side, and zero sights - unless you count long lines of Indian big-rigs. If you have Indian Currency and are going to Nepal, there's no need to worry about exchanging money to Nepali Currency. Shops/Hotels/Buses in Nepal easily accept Indian Currencies in denominations up to Rs 100.

Going from India to Nepal, Nepalese visas are available on arrival. Going from Nepal to India? Hope you have visa already as no visa's are available on arrival to India. And neither immigration offices are overly helpful.

Get in

Attention!
Be aware that at the Indian side of the border there is quite a violent scam running. They make you buy traintickets and cough up ludicrious amounts of money under threat of physical violence. Do not buy any travelservices in Sunauli, and ignore all attempts to offer you these. Postpone buying onward tickets to Gorakhpur no matter what they say.

By bus

Indian "package" tour buses, mostly pilgrims to Lumbini and Kathmandu, do cross the border and continue on after immigration. The farang / backpacker "package" tour buses normally do not and you will sadly and most likely be booked overnight in a cheap, not so nice hotel in Sunauli for your connection "connecting service " to Kathmandu. If you have only booked to the border you can cross (on foot) and find buses on either side up to 6PM - 7 PM. Intercity buses depart on both sides usually twice a day - dusk and dawn(from 4 AM) . Delhi, Gorakpur, Sunauli, India/Belahiya, Nepal. 24 - 30 hours. Try not to cross border in the night, Security persons on both sides are not co-operative and hotels on the Nepali sides will be closed, you have to rely on a guide. Update!: Please note that the warning in the text box refers to night-time crossings only. Travellers and bloggers crossing in daylight report that touts are relatively polite and helpful (though as always exercising caution with touts is naturally advisable).

By jeep

Get around

Rickshaw's, buses, taxis all available. If you are stuck overnight here do not hesitate to take a 10 minute rickshaw up north for wonderful restaurants in Bhairahawa.

See

Also see Manakamna Tempel situated in mugling there's very nice place to see there's cable car ride aprox 10 to 15 minutes cabel car ride
and also if you have time then you can go to sauraha situated in chitwan 30-35 minutes ride from narayangarh and spent a night there.you can also hire a taxi from narayangarh which may charge you approx 500-600 NR

Do

Buy

Eat

Options for food on the Indian side of the border are very limited and of questionable standards (with the exception of the pilgrim's hotel). Eat on the Nepal side and/or pack extra food if possible. Look for nice little outdoor daba/tandori restaurant run by Lucky Singh just 30 meters north of the border on the east side. Questionable atmosphere but great food! They even have A/C facilties (20 NRs extra) in the hot season.

Drink

Sleep

Most of the accommodations are found on the Nepal side, though there is a Government of India run hotel for pilgrims on the Indian side. Look for the large white building about .5 kilometers south of the border on the main road. Modern rooms with bathrooms, TVs, and A/C for 1200IRs. None are recommended for women travelling alone.
. Cheaper rooms usually go early in the day.